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Home washers and dryers can provide tremendous ease and convenience on laundry day. Front-loading units are especially useful because you have plenty of space above for shelves, cabinets or other storage. If you plan to add a front-loading dryer to your laundry room or garage, you will need to use some caution when installing the appliance, but you do not need professional assistance, as long as you have the appropriate hookups.

1

Examine the electrical outlet in your laundry area. If you have a standard three-prong electrical outlet, you will need to use a gas dryer. If you have a 240-volt outlet available, you can use either gas or electric. A 240-volt outlet features two horizontal slits at the top, as opposed to the standard vertical slits. Some outlets also list the voltage right on the plate.

2

Examine the surrounding area and look for a gas line and a vent. If you do not have both of these available, you will not be able to hook up a gas dryer. You can use an electric dryer, assuming you have a 240-volt outlet, or you can have a vent and a gas line installed.

3

Turn off the circuit breaker that corresponds to the dryer's outlet. If installing a gas dryer, close the gas pipe's valve as well. You should have no gas or electricity running while you hook up your front-loading dryer.

4

Move the dryer into place and place a level directly on top. The dryer should sit perfectly even on the ground. If the dryer sits at any sort of an angle, adjust its feet until you have it perfectly flat. Even weight distribution is especially important for front-loading dryers to ensure that the loads cycle properly.

5

Cover the threads on the end of the gas supply pipe with pipe-wrap tape, and place a stainless steel pipe connector onto the pipe. Pipe connectors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so make sure to use one that corresponds to your dryer's gas valve. The dryer may come equipped with an appropriate connector.

6

Attach the gas valve on the back of the dryer to the external supply pipe. Use a wrench to tighten the connection as much as possible. This is extremely important, as an insufficient connection can result in gas leaks.

7

Attach a metal duct pipe to the round vent connector along the wall, and to the outlet on the back of the dryer, creating a path from the dryer to the wall. You may need to attach metal elbow joints to both ends of the pipe to access the dryer and the vent straight on. Insert 3/4-inch sheet-metal screws into the flanges and screw them tightly into place.

8

Plug the dryer into the electrical outlet. Turn on the circuit breaker and the gas power to restore power to the area. If you have a gas dryer, before calling it a day, mix equal parts water and detergent, and pour it directly onto the gas line, where the dryer valve meets gas pipe. If you see bubbles rise, this indicates a gas leak, and you need to continue tightening the connection.

Things You Will Need

Level

Pipe wrap tape

Stainless steel pipe connector

Wrench

Metal duct pipe

Metal elbow joints

3/4-inch sheet-metal screws

Screwdriver

Household detergent

Tip

When choosing a front-loading dryer, bear in mind that gas models are typically much more energy-efficient than electric models, according to the Southern California Gas Co.